The jubilation hearings that Pope Francis had begun in January resume. Leo XIV, Inside the Vatican Basilica, for the strong heat that does not allow you to stay outdoors, it recalls how the Gospel, in Europe, has been brought from outside. Remembering one of the greatest Christian theologians, the bishop Ireneo di Lionewho was born in Asia Minor and had formed among those who had directly known the apostles underlines “as it is good for us to remember it here, in Rome, in Europe! The Gospel was brought to this continent from outside. And even today the communities of migrants are presences that revive faith in the countries that welcome them. The Gospel comes from outside. Ireneo connects East and West».
The pontiff asks to continue “The path started, like pilgrims of hope!” gathered by the “hope transmitted by the apostles from the beginning. The apostles saw the earth in Jesus bind to the sky: with the eyes, the ears, the hands welcomed the verb of life. The Jubilee is an open door on this mystery. The jubilee year connects the world of God more radically to ours. He invites us to take seriously what we pray every day: “As in heaven, so on earth”. This is our hope ».
And deepening the appearance of the “Hoping that it is to connect,” insists on a Jesus who does not separate. Ireneo not only recalls “how peoples continue to enrich each other”but, precisely for the divisions he meets within the Christian community “internal conflicts and external persecutions” teaches us not to discourage us and try to build units.
«In a world in pieces he learned to think better, bringing attention to Jesus more and more deeply. He became a singer of his person, or rather of his flesh. In fact, he recognized that in him what seems opposite to us is recomposed in unity. GEsù is not a wall that separates, but a door that unites us. It is necessary to remain in him and distinguish reality from ideologies».
Even today, says Pope Leone, “Ideas can go crazy and words can kill. The meat, on the other hand, is what we are all made; This is what binds us to earth and other creatures. The flesh of Jesus must be welcomed and contemplated in every brother and sister, in every creature. We listen to the cry of the meat, let’s feel called by name from the pain of others. The commandment that we have received from the beginning is that of a mutual love. It is written in our flesh, before in any law ».
And then «Ireneo, master of unity, teaches us not to contrast, but to connect. There is intelligence not where it separates, but where it connects. Distinguishing is useful, but never dividing. Jesus is eternal life among us: he gathers opposites and makes communion possible. We are pilgrims of hope, because among people, peoples and creatures you need someone who decides to move towards communion. Others will follow us. Like Ireneo in Lyon in the second century, so in each of our cities we return to build bridges where there are walls today. We open doors, we connect worlds and there will be hope ».
